{{tnr}}'''Debbie Wasserman Schultz''' (b. September 27, 1966, in Forest Hills, New York) is a [[Democratic]] member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. Wasserman Schultz was elected by voters from [[Florida's 23rd congressional district]].

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{{tnr}}'''Debbie Wasserman Schultz''' (b. September 27, 1966, in Forest Hills, New York) is a [[Democratic]] member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. Wasserman Schultz was elected by voters from [[Florida's 23rd Congressional District]].

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Wasserman Schultz was first elected to the [[U.S. House]] in 2004 from [[Florida's 20th congressional district|District 20]] and was most recently re-elected in [[Florida's 23rd congressional district|District 23]] in 2012.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Elections/Florida ''ABC News'' "2012 General Election Results"]</ref>

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Wasserman Schultz was first elected to the [[U.S. House]] in 2004 from [[Florida's 20th Congressional District|District 20]] and was most recently re-elected in [[Florida's 23rd Congressional District|District 23]] in 2012.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Elections/Florida ''ABC News'' "2012 General Election Results"]</ref>

She previously served as in District 34 of the [[Florida State Senate]] from 2003 to 2004, District 32 of the [[Florida State Senate]] from 2001 to 2003 and District 97 of the [[Florida House of Representatives]] from 1993 to 2001.<ref>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/24301/debbie-wasserman-schultz#.Ubnp6Njkoec ''Project Votesmart'' "Debbie Wasserman Schultz" Accessed June 13, 2013]</ref>

She previously served as in District 34 of the [[Florida State Senate]] from 2003 to 2004, District 32 of the [[Florida State Senate]] from 2001 to 2003 and District 97 of the [[Florida House of Representatives]] from 1993 to 2001.<ref>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/24301/debbie-wasserman-schultz#.Ubnp6Njkoec ''Project Votesmart'' "Debbie Wasserman Schultz" Accessed June 13, 2013]</ref>

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Wasserman Schultz serves as one of the Chief Deputy Whips of the [[Democratic]] caucus for the [[113th Congress]].<ref>[http://www.democraticwhip.gov/content/hoyer-announces-whip-team-113th-congress ''Office of the Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer'' "Hoyer Announces Whip Team for the 113th Congress," January 4, 2013]</ref> She also serves as the current chair of the Democratic National Committee.

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She serves as one of the Chief Deputy Whips of the [[Democratic]] caucus for the [[113th Congress]].<ref>[http://www.democraticwhip.gov/content/hoyer-announces-whip-team-113th-congress ''Office of the Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer'' "Hoyer Announces Whip Team for the 113th Congress," January 4, 2013]</ref> She also serves as the current chair of the Democratic National Committee.

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She is set to run for [[U.S. Congress elections, 2014|re-election]] to the [[U.S. House elections, 2014|U.S. House]] in 2014. If she runs, she will seek the Democratic nomination in the primary election.

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{{Introanalysis

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|Party=Democratic

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|Rating=Average

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|Pronoun=she

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|Fullname=Debbie Wasserman Schultz

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|Lastname=Wasserman Schultz

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}}

==Biography==

==Biography==

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*2001-2003: [[Florida State Senate]], 32nd District

*2001-2003: [[Florida State Senate]], 32nd District

*2003-2004: [[Florida State Senate]], 34th District

*2003-2004: [[Florida State Senate]], 34th District

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*2005-2013: [[United States House of Representatives]], [[Florida's 20th congressional district]]

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*2005-2013: [[United States House of Representatives]], [[Florida's 20th Congressional District]]

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*2013-present: [[United States House of Representatives]], [[Florida's 23rd congressional district]]

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*2013-present: [[United States House of Representatives]], [[Florida's 23rd Congressional District]]

On September 3, 2013, Wasserman Schultz said the U.S. would be bolstered with support from “dozens” of international allies if the United States makes military strikes against Syria.<ref name="syria"/> “I mean we have, from the briefings that I’ve received, there are dozens of countries who are going to stand with the United States, who will engage with us on military action and also that back us up,” Wasserman Schultz told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “Piers Morgan Live.”<ref name="syria"/>

On September 3, 2013, Wasserman Schultz said the U.S. would be bolstered with support from “dozens” of international allies if the United States makes military strikes against Syria.<ref name="syria"/> “I mean we have, from the briefings that I’ve received, there are dozens of countries who are going to stand with the United States, who will engage with us on military action and also that back us up,” Wasserman Schultz told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “Piers Morgan Live.”<ref name="syria"/>

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Schulz also emphasized the need to need to support U.S. allies in the region. “And we’ll make sure that not only that we can protect our allies in the region from the strengthening of Assad’s hands, if we don’t respond, like Israel and Jordan and Turkey, but also that we stand against moral obscenities, as Secretary Kerry rightly labeled this chemical weapons attack, and make sure that it’s understood that you will receive a severe and certain response from the United States and our allies when you violate international norms, like Assad has.”<ref name="syria":>[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/syria-crisis-update-debbie-wasserman-schultz-96185.html#ixzz2dvbGcZBb ''Politico,'' "DNC head Debbie Wasserman Schultz: U.S. has 'dozens' of allies," accessed September 4, 2013]</ref>

Schulz also emphasized the need to need to support U.S. allies in the region. “And we’ll make sure that not only that we can protect our allies in the region from the strengthening of Assad’s hands, if we don’t respond, like Israel and Jordan and Turkey, but also that we stand against moral obscenities, as Secretary Kerry rightly labeled this chemical weapons attack, and make sure that it’s understood that you will receive a severe and certain response from the United States and our allies when you violate international norms, like Assad has.”<ref name="syria":>[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/syria-crisis-update-debbie-wasserman-schultz-96185.html#ixzz2dvbGcZBb ''Politico,'' "DNC head Debbie Wasserman Schultz: U.S. has 'dozens' of allies," accessed September 4, 2013]</ref>

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===House Judiciary Committee===

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=====DHS Appropriations=====

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{{Oppose vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.<ref name="votes">[http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/24301/debbie-wasserman-schultz#.UkmH73_B_A4 ''Project Votesmart,'' "Debbie Wasserman Schultz Key Votes," accessed September 30, 2013]</ref>

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=====Keystone Pipeline Amendment=====

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{{Support vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted in favor of House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.<ref name="votes"/>

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=====CISPA (2013)=====

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{{Oppose vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c113:4:./temp/~c113vMEvNq:e679: ''The Library of Congress'', "H.R.624 CISPA (2013) (Referred in Senate - RFS)," accessed August 27, 2013]</ref> The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.<ref name="votes"/>

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=====NDAA=====

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{{Support vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.<ref name="votes"/>

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====Economy====

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=====Government shutdown=====

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:: ''See also: [[United States budget debate, 2013]]''

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{{Oppose vote}} On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll504.xml ''Clerk of the U.S. House,'' "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013]</ref> At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. [[Harry Reid]] rejected the call to conference.<ref>[http://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/government-shutdown-how-we-got-here?bffb ''Buzzfeed'', "Government Shutdown: How We Got Here," accessed October 1, 2013]</ref> Wasserman Schultz voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll504.xml ''Clerk of the U.S. House,'' "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013]</ref>

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{{Support vote}} The shutdown finally ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funds the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by [[United States Senate|Senate Democrats]] was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-effort-to-end-fiscal-crisis-collapses-leaving-senate-to-forge-last-minute-solution/2013/10/16/1e8bb150-364d-11e3-be86-6aeaa439845b_story_1.html ''The Washington Post'', "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013]</ref> The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from [[Republican]] members. Wasserman Schultz voted for HR 2775.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll550.xml ''U.S. House,'' "Final vote results for Roll Call 550," accessed October 31, 2013]</ref>

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=====Federal Pay Adjustment Act=====

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{{Oppose vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 273 - Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees. The bill passed the House on February 15, 2013, with a vote of 261 - 154. The bill would prevent a 0.5% pay increase for all federal workers from taking effect, saving the federal government $11 billion over 10 years.<ref name="votes"/>

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====Immigration====

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=====Morton Memos Prohibition=====

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{{Oppose vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States. The vote largely followed party lines.<ref name="votes"/>

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====Healthcare====

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=====Health Care Reform Rules=====

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{{Oppose vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted against House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.<ref name="votes"/>

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=====Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act=====

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{{Oppose vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 2009 - Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013. The bill passed through the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 232-185. The bill would prevent the IRS and Treasury Secretary from enforcing the powers provided to them in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote largely followed party lines.<ref name="votes"/>

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=====Statements on future of Obamacare=====

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During an November 2013 interview on CNN, Wasserman Schultz remained optimistic about the future of Obamacare:

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::"I think actually that Democrats will be able to run on Obamacare as an advantage," Schultz said.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/11/wasserman-schultz-future-dems-will-run-on-obamacare-177156.html ''Politico'', "Wasserman Schultz: Future Dems will run on Obamacare," accessed November 11, 2013]</ref>

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====Social issues====

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=====Amash amendment=====

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{{Oppose vote}} Wasserman Schultz voted against House Amendment 413 - Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the Patriot Act. The amendment failed on July 4, 2013, by a vote of 205-217. The amendment would have prohibited the collection of records by the National Security Agency under the Patriot Act. Both parties were split on the vote.<ref name="votes"/>

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====Previous congressional sessions====

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=====Fiscal Cliff=====

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{{Support vote}}

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Wasserman Schultz voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. She was 1 of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll659.xml ''U.S. House'' "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff" Accessed January 4, 2013.]</ref>

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===Controversy===

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====Funding government====

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Wasserman Schultz said in an interview on September 20, 2013, that Republicans need to “embrace sanity” in the debate over funding the government.<ref name="gopfunding">[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/debbie-wasserman-schultz-republicans-cr-97133.html#ixzz2fimgQLoK ''Politico,'' "DNC chair to GOP: 'Embrace sanity'," accessed September 23, 2013]</ref>

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“This is about an internal civil war going on in the Republican Party where clearly the Tea Party has won,” Wasserman Schultz said. “They are hurdling us toward government shutdown and economic crisis. It is unconscionable, irresponsible and entirely avoidable. The ball is firmly in the Republicans' court. They need to embrace sanity.”<ref name="gopfunding"/>

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“The Republicans continue to rigidly adhere to dogma and ideology,” she said. “They are slavishly bowing at the altar of the Tea Party and that’s what this is about. The speaker needs to lead. They need to stop having the tail wag the dog and they need to go see the wizard, grow some courage and stop thinking about remaining in power and think about what’s best for the American people and our economy.”<ref name="gopfunding"/>

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====Voter suppression in Colorado recalls====

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Wasserman Schultz released a statement on September 11, 2013 that “voter suppression” led to the [[Two state senators successfully recalled in Colorado|defeat of the two]] [[Democratic]] lawmakers in [[Two state senators successfully recalled in Colorado|Colorado]].<ref name="suppression">[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/colorado-election-democrats-debbie-wasserman-schultz-96621.html ''Politico,'' "Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Vote 'suppression' in Colorado," accessed September 17, 2013]</ref>

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“The recall elections in Colorado were defined by the vast array of obstacles that special interests threw in the way of voters for the purpose of reversing the will of the legislature and the people. This was voter suppression, pure and simple,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.<ref name="suppression"/>

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The recall, in which [[Colorado State Senate|state senate]] president [[John Morse]] and [[Colorado State Senate|state senator]] [[Angela Giron]] were ousted because of their support for gun control, was hotly contested and national figures weighed in from across the country, including donations and efforts by both the National Rifle Association and New York City Mayor Bloomberg.<ref name="suppression"/>

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Wasserman Schultz attributed the results to ballot complications and the efforts of “right wing groups.”<ref name="suppression"/>

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“Colorado voters are used to casting their ballots by mail, but because of lawsuits filed by opponents of common sense gun reform, voters were not mailed their ballots in this election. Those who intended to vote in person did not learn their polling locations until less than two weeks before Election Day,” she said.<ref name="suppression"/> She added, “Tuesday’s low turnout was a result of efforts by the NRA, the Koch brothers and other right wing groups who know that when more people vote, Democrats win.”<ref name="suppression"/>

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====House Judiciary Committee====

Wasserman Schultz was first appointed into the House Judiciary Committee after being sworn into her second term in Congress on January of 2007.<ref>[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&docid=f:33313.pdf "Government Printing Office" House Judiciary Committee:107th Congress](See Page ii)</ref> She also served on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Wasserman Schultz was first appointed into the House Judiciary Committee after being sworn into her second term in Congress on January of 2007.<ref>[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&docid=f:33313.pdf "Government Printing Office" House Judiciary Committee:107th Congress](See Page ii)</ref> She also served on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

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===Head of Democratic National Committee===

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====Head of Democratic National Committee====

Wasserman Schultz angered many top leaders in the [[Democratic Party|party]] she leads as Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair when she went public with her plans to use the connections she has made in her national job to position herself for a statewide run in [[Florida]] or even a bid to replace [[Nancy Pelosi]] as [[Democratic]] leader in the [[U.S. House|House]].<ref>[http://hotair.com/archives/2013/08/03/eminently-reasonable-dnc-chair-manages-to-anger-own-party/ ''Hot Air'' "Eminently reasonable DNC chair manages to anger own party" Accessed August 5, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/democratic-party-chief-angers-democrats ''Buzz Feed Politics'' "Democratic Party Chief Angers Democrats" Accessed August 5, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/08/its-august-again-time-for-anonymous-dems-to-attack-debbie-wasserman-schultz-again.html ''Miami Herald'' "It’s August. Again. Time for anonymous Dems to attack Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Again." Accessed August 5, 2013]</ref>

Wasserman Schultz angered many top leaders in the [[Democratic Party|party]] she leads as Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair when she went public with her plans to use the connections she has made in her national job to position herself for a statewide run in [[Florida]] or even a bid to replace [[Nancy Pelosi]] as [[Democratic]] leader in the [[U.S. House|House]].<ref>[http://hotair.com/archives/2013/08/03/eminently-reasonable-dnc-chair-manages-to-anger-own-party/ ''Hot Air'' "Eminently reasonable DNC chair manages to anger own party" Accessed August 5, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/democratic-party-chief-angers-democrats ''Buzz Feed Politics'' "Democratic Party Chief Angers Democrats" Accessed August 5, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/08/its-august-again-time-for-anonymous-dems-to-attack-debbie-wasserman-schultz-again.html ''Miami Herald'' "It’s August. Again. Time for anonymous Dems to attack Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Again." Accessed August 5, 2013]</ref>

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Not everyone has been happy about her ambition, and one senior [[Democratic]] source said the White House was “absolutely outraged” by Wasserman Schultz’s comments.<ref name="biz"/> “This is unbelievable. So much for supporting the president or electing Democrats,” remarked a top Democratic political adviser. “She was honest that this is about her.”<ref name="biz"/>

Not everyone has been happy about her ambition, and one senior [[Democratic]] source said the White House was “absolutely outraged” by Wasserman Schultz’s comments.<ref name="biz"/> “This is unbelievable. So much for supporting the president or electing Democrats,” remarked a top Democratic political adviser. “She was honest that this is about her.”<ref name="biz"/>

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===DNC campaign in Arizona, Texas and Georgia===

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====DNC campaign in Arizona, Texas and Georgia====

Wasserman Schultz will take part in a campaign-style trip through three [[Republican]]-leaning states— Arizona, Texas and Georgia — where the [[Democratic Party]] badly wants to make inroads, Democratic National Committee (DNC) officials announced on August 21, 2013.<ref name="trip">[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/dnc-debbie-wasserman-schultz-95772.html ''Politico,'' "DNC chief heads out to three red states," accessed August 22, 2013]</ref> As part of the tour, she will address a meeting of the DNC in [[Arizona]] before heading to [[Texas]] and [[Georgia]] for party-building events.<ref name="trip"/>

Wasserman Schultz will take part in a campaign-style trip through three [[Republican]]-leaning states— Arizona, Texas and Georgia — where the [[Democratic Party]] badly wants to make inroads, Democratic National Committee (DNC) officials announced on August 21, 2013.<ref name="trip">[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/dnc-debbie-wasserman-schultz-95772.html ''Politico,'' "DNC chief heads out to three red states," accessed August 22, 2013]</ref> As part of the tour, she will address a meeting of the DNC in [[Arizona]] before heading to [[Texas]] and [[Georgia]] for party-building events.<ref name="trip"/>

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RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski responded to Wasserman Schultz’s planned political travel by pointing to the two committees’ financial scoreboard.<ref name="trip"/> “The DNC is $18 million in debt and they appear to be struggling to raise money. I wish them luck trying to make inroads in three states while the RNC is well on our way to building a 50-state strategy and completely overhauling how we contact voters,” Kukowski said.<ref name="trip"/>

RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski responded to Wasserman Schultz’s planned political travel by pointing to the two committees’ financial scoreboard.<ref name="trip"/> “The DNC is $18 million in debt and they appear to be struggling to raise money. I wish them luck trying to make inroads in three states while the RNC is well on our way to building a 50-state strategy and completely overhauling how we contact voters,” Kukowski said.<ref name="trip"/>

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===Specific votes===

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====Fiscal Cliff====

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{{Support vote}}

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Wasserman Schultz voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. She was 1 of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll659.xml ''U.S. House'' "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff" Accessed January 4, 2013.]</ref>

Wasserman Schultz is set to run for [[U.S. Congress elections, 2014|re-election]] to the [[U.S. House elections, 2014|U.S. House]] in 2014. If she runs, she will seek the Democratic nomination in the primary election.{{Nov2014genelection}}

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Wasserman Schultz is set to run for [[U.S. Congress elections, 2014|re-election]] to the [[U.S. House elections, 2014|U.S. House]] in 2014. If she runs, she will seek the Democratic nomination in the primary election. {{Nov2014genelection}}

Wasserman Schultz was running in the [[U.S. Congress elections, 2012|2012 election]] for the [[U.S. House elections, 2012|U.S. House]], representing [[United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2012|Florida's]] [[Florida's 23rd congressional district elections, 2012|23rd District]]. She won the nomination on the Democratic ticket.<ref>[http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/07/could-allen-west-and-debbie-wasserman-schultz-run-against-each-other-in-12-.html ''Miami Herald'' "Could Allen West and Debbie Wasserman Schultz run against each other in '12?" Accessed December 3, 2011]</ref> The [[Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 U.S. Congress elections|signature filing deadline]] was June 8, 2012, with the primary taking place on August 14, 2012. Wasserman Schultz ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2012.<ref name="ap">[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2012/by_state/FL_US_House_0814.html?SITE=CSPANELN&SECTION=POLITICS ''AP Results'' "U.S. House Results" Accessed August 14, 2012]</ref> She was re-elected on November 6, 2012.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Elections/Florida ''ABC News'' "2012 General Election Results"]</ref>

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Wasserman Schultz was running in the [[U.S. Congress elections, 2012|2012 election]] for the [[U.S. House elections, 2012|U.S. House]], representing [[United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2012|Florida's]] [[Florida's 23rd Congressional District elections, 2012|23rd District]]. She won the nomination on the Democratic ticket.<ref>[http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/07/could-allen-west-and-debbie-wasserman-schultz-run-against-each-other-in-12-.html ''Miami Herald'' "Could Allen West and Debbie Wasserman Schultz run against each other in '12?" Accessed December 3, 2011]</ref> The [[Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 U.S. Congress elections|signature filing deadline]] was June 8, 2012, with the primary taking place on August 14, 2012. Wasserman Schultz ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2012.<ref name="ap">[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2012/by_state/FL_US_House_0814.html?SITE=CSPANELN&SECTION=POLITICS ''AP Results'' "U.S. House Results" Accessed August 14, 2012]</ref> She was re-elected on November 6, 2012.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Elections/Florida ''ABC News'' "2012 General Election Results"]</ref>

::''See also: [[Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

::''See also: [[Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

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According to the website ''GovTrack,'' Wasserman Schultz missed 292 of 6,440 roll call votes from Jan 2005 to Mar 2013. This amounts to 4.5%, which is worse than the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of March 2013.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/debbie_wasserman_schultz/400623 ''GovTrack,'' "Debbie Wasserman Schultz," Accessed March 29, 2013]</ref>

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According to the website ''GovTrack,'' Wasserman Schultz missed 292 of 6,440 roll call votes from January 2005 to March 2013. This amounts to 4.5%, which is worse than the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of March 2013.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/debbie_wasserman_schultz/400623 ''GovTrack,'' "Debbie Wasserman Schultz," Accessed March 29, 2013]</ref>

===Congressional staff salaries===

===Congressional staff salaries===

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===National Journal vote ratings===

===National Journal vote ratings===

:: ''See also: [[National Journal vote ratings]]''

:: ''See also: [[National Journal vote ratings]]''

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Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year.

====2012====

====2012====

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Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Wasserman Schultz ranked 62nd in the liberal rankings in 2012.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-vote-ratings ''National Journal,'' "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," February 27, 2013]</ref>

Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Wasserman Schultz ranked 98th in the liberal rankings.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings2011/searchable-vote-ratings-tables-house-20120223 ''National Journal,'' "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," February 23, 2012]</ref>

She serves as one of the Chief Deputy Whips of the Democratic caucus for the 113th Congress.[3] She also serves as the current chair of the Democratic National Committee.

She is set to run for re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. If she runs, she will seek the Democratic nomination in the primary election.

Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Wasserman Schultz is an average Democratic member of Congress, meaning she will vote with the Democratic Party on the majority of bills.

Biography

Debbie Wasserman Schultz was born in 1966 on Long Island, New York. She attended the University of Florida and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1988 and with a Master’s Degree in 1990.[4]

Issues

Legislative actions

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 114 out of the 3,036 introduced bills (3.8 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[9] For more information pertaining to Wasserman Schultz's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[10]

National security

American response in Syria

On September 3, 2013, Wasserman Schultz said the U.S. would be bolstered with support from “dozens” of international allies if the United States makes military strikes against Syria.[11] “I mean we have, from the briefings that I’ve received, there are dozens of countries who are going to stand with the United States, who will engage with us on military action and also that back us up,” Wasserman Schultz told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “Piers Morgan Live.”[11]

“In both military and diplomatic and political support, there are dozens of nations who had committed to back us up,” she said.[11]

However, Wasserman Schultz said she was not at “liberty to say” specifically what countries have expressed supporting in missile strikes, because some of the information she received was classified.[11] Echoing the sentiments of John McCain (R), Wasserman Schultz has been vocal on her support of intervention adding “and voting this down would be catastrophic for our credibility.”[11]

Schulz also emphasized the need to need to support U.S. allies in the region. “And we’ll make sure that not only that we can protect our allies in the region from the strengthening of Assad’s hands, if we don’t respond, like Israel and Jordan and Turkey, but also that we stand against moral obscenities, as Secretary Kerry rightly labeled this chemical weapons attack, and make sure that it’s understood that you will receive a severe and certain response from the United States and our allies when you violate international norms, like Assad has.”[12]

DHS Appropriations

Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.[13]

Keystone Pipeline Amendment

Wasserman Schultz voted in favor of House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.[13]

CISPA (2013)

Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.[14] The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.[13]

NDAA

Wasserman Schultz voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[13]

Economy

Government shutdown

On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[15] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[16] Wasserman Schultz voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[17]

The shutdown finally ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funds the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[18] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Wasserman Schultz voted for HR 2775.[19]

Federal Pay Adjustment Act

Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 273 - Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees. The bill passed the House on February 15, 2013, with a vote of 261 - 154. The bill would prevent a 0.5% pay increase for all federal workers from taking effect, saving the federal government $11 billion over 10 years.[13]

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

Wasserman Schultz voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States. The vote largely followed party lines.[13]

Healthcare

Health Care Reform Rules

Wasserman Schultz voted against House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.[13]

Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act

Wasserman Schultz voted against HR 2009 - Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013. The bill passed through the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 232-185. The bill would prevent the IRS and Treasury Secretary from enforcing the powers provided to them in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote largely followed party lines.[13]

Statements on future of Obamacare

During an November 2013 interview on CNN, Wasserman Schultz remained optimistic about the future of Obamacare:

"I think actually that Democrats will be able to run on Obamacare as an advantage," Schultz said.[20]

Social issues

Amash amendment

Wasserman Schultz voted against House Amendment 413 - Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the Patriot Act. The amendment failed on July 4, 2013, by a vote of 205-217. The amendment would have prohibited the collection of records by the National Security Agency under the Patriot Act. Both parties were split on the vote.[13]

Previous congressional sessions

Fiscal Cliff

Wasserman Schultz voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. She was 1 of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[21]

Controversy

Funding government

Wasserman Schultz said in an interview on September 20, 2013, that Republicans need to “embrace sanity” in the debate over funding the government.[22]

“This is about an internal civil war going on in the Republican Party where clearly the Tea Party has won,” Wasserman Schultz said. “They are hurdling us toward government shutdown and economic crisis. It is unconscionable, irresponsible and entirely avoidable. The ball is firmly in the Republicans' court. They need to embrace sanity.”[22]

“The Republicans continue to rigidly adhere to dogma and ideology,” she said. “They are slavishly bowing at the altar of the Tea Party and that’s what this is about. The speaker needs to lead. They need to stop having the tail wag the dog and they need to go see the wizard, grow some courage and stop thinking about remaining in power and think about what’s best for the American people and our economy.”[22]

Voter suppression in Colorado recalls

“The recall elections in Colorado were defined by the vast array of obstacles that special interests threw in the way of voters for the purpose of reversing the will of the legislature and the people. This was voter suppression, pure and simple,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.[23]

The recall, in which state senate president John Morse and state senatorAngela Giron were ousted because of their support for gun control, was hotly contested and national figures weighed in from across the country, including donations and efforts by both the National Rifle Association and New York City Mayor Bloomberg.[23]

Wasserman Schultz attributed the results to ballot complications and the efforts of “right wing groups.”[23]

“Colorado voters are used to casting their ballots by mail, but because of lawsuits filed by opponents of common sense gun reform, voters were not mailed their ballots in this election. Those who intended to vote in person did not learn their polling locations until less than two weeks before Election Day,” she said.[23] She added, “Tuesday’s low turnout was a result of efforts by the NRA, the Koch brothers and other right wing groups who know that when more people vote, Democrats win.”[23]

House Judiciary Committee

Wasserman Schultz was first appointed into the House Judiciary Committee after being sworn into her second term in Congress on January of 2007.[24] She also served on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Head of Democratic National Committee

Wasserman Schultz angered many top leaders in the party she leads as Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair when she went public with her plans to use the connections she has made in her national job to position herself for a statewide run in Florida or even a bid to replace Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader in the House.[25][26][27]

In an interview in August 2013 Wasserman Schultz revealed that she planned to use her position as the head of the DNC and its extensive and deep-pocketed donor network to construct a stronger and more expansive political operation, to at least “double” the money she gives to Democrats in the House, Senate and state capitals around the country.[28][29]

While House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) has been the top HouseDemocratic fundraiser, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer is perceived as the next in line when she steps aside.[29] Wasserman Schultz’s political team explicitly said her goal for the 2014 cycle is to match Hoyer’s contributions to candidates — approximately $2.5 million —positioning her to be a player.[29]

“I don’t really do anything halfway,” Wasserman Schultz commented in an interview with Politico. “We thought with the higher profile I have at the DNC, and the donor relationships I’ve been able to build — and thankfully, a lot of people who want to help me be successful, because we share the same goals. We kind of put the leadership PAC on steroids. That’s the best way to describe it.”[29][28]

Not everyone has been happy about her ambition, and one senior Democratic source said the White House was “absolutely outraged” by Wasserman Schultz’s comments.[29] “This is unbelievable. So much for supporting the president or electing Democrats,” remarked a top Democratic political adviser. “She was honest that this is about her.”[29]

DNC campaign in Arizona, Texas and Georgia

Wasserman Schultz will take part in a campaign-style trip through three Republican-leaning states— Arizona, Texas and Georgia — where the Democratic Party badly wants to make inroads, Democratic National Committee (DNC) officials announced on August 21, 2013.[30] As part of the tour, she will address a meeting of the DNC in Arizona before heading to Texas and Georgia for party-building events.[30]

All three states have been solidly conservative in national elections, but Democrats see the potential to make them more electorally competitive thanks to their growing racial diversity.

“Diversity is our hallmark and it is also the direction that the country is going,” Wasserman Schultz said in an interview in August 2013. “That’s why we’re very hopeful about the Democratic Party’s prospects in states like Texas and Arizona and Georgia.”Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag;
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DNC officials said the meeting in Arizona would be an opportunity to re-emphasize the party’s commitment to tapping — and representing — the changing national electorate. The committee plans to launch a nationwide push to register new voters “and play offense in places like Arizona, Texas and Georgia,” a Democratic official said.[30] The party also aims to expand and develop the set of tactical tools Democrats wielded to great effect in 2012: building out their digital and voter-targeting operations, and intensifying staff and candidate training through the Association of State Democratic Chairs.[30]

“This issue is more important in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision that struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act. The Voter Protection department is tracking legislative and court actions and working with allied groups to counter actions that infringe on citizens’ rights,” the DNC official added.[30]

In Texas, a group of former Obama strategists have founded Battleground Texas, an outside group focused on registering and engaging the Lone Star State’s changing electorate in the hope of putting Texas in play in future election cycles.[30] “Texas, we look at as a huge opportunity,” Wasserman Schultz said. “We’re making Texas a priority and I expect to make significant gains.”

RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski responded to Wasserman Schultz’s planned political travel by pointing to the two committees’ financial scoreboard.[30] “The DNC is $18 million in debt and they appear to be struggling to raise money. I wish them luck trying to make inroads in three states while the RNC is well on our way to building a 50-state strategy and completely overhauling how we contact voters,” Kukowski said.[30]

Elections

2014

Wasserman Schultz is set to run for re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. If she runs, she will seek the Democratic nomination in the primary election. The general election took place November 4, 2014.

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Debbie Wasserman Schultz, click [show] to expand the section.

2010

On November 2, 2010, Debbie Wasserman Schultz won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Karen Harrington (R), Stanley Blumenthal (I), Robert Kunst (I) and Clayton Schock (I) in the general election.[34]

U.S. House, Florida District 20 General Election, 2010

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Democratic

Debbie Wasserman Schultzincumbent

60.1%

100,787

Republican

Karen Harrington

38.1%

63,845

Independent

Stanley Blumenthal

1%

1,663

Independent

Robert Kunst

0.8%

1,272

Independent

Clayton Schock

0%

3

Total Votes

167,570

2008

On November 4, 2008, Debbie Wasserman Schultz won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Margaret Hostetter (No Party Affiliation) and Marc Luzietti (Write-in) in the general election.[35]

U.S. House, Florida District 20 General Election, 2008

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Democratic

Debbie Wasserman Schultzincumbent

77.5%

202,832

Independent

Margaret Hostetter

22.5%

58,958

Write-in

Marc Luzietti

0%

9

Total Votes

261,799

2006

Wasserman Schultz ran unopposed for re-election in 2006.

2004

On November 2, 2004, Debbie Wasserman Schultz won election to the United States House. She defeated Margaret Hostetter (R) in the general election.[36]

U.S. House, Florida District 20 General Election, 2004

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Democratic

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

70.2%

191,195

Republican

Margaret Hostetter

29.8%

81,213

Total Votes

272,408

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Wasserman Schultz is available dating back to 2004. Based on available campaign finance records, Wasserman Schultz raised a total of $9,842,213 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 4, 2013.[37]

2012

Breakdown of the source of Wasserman Schultz's campaign funds before the 2012 election.

Wasserman Schultz won re-election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that election cycle, Wasserman Schultz's campaign committee raised a total of $3,629,324 and spent $3,520,041.[47] This is more than the average $1.5 million spent by House winners in 2012.[48]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, Wasserman Schultz missed 292 of 6,440 roll call votes from January 2005 to March 2013. This amounts to 4.5%, which is worse than the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of March 2013.[52]

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Wasserman Schultz paid her congressional staff a total of $1,145,335 in 2011. She ranks 29th on the list of the highest paid Democratic representative staff salaries and ranks 36th overall of the highest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Florida ranks 36th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[53]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Wasserman Schultz's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between -$439,987 and $186,997. That averages to -$126,495, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2011 of $5,107,874. Her average net worth decreased by 360.05% from 2010.[54]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Wasserman Schultz's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $-289,989 and $234,997. That averages to $-27,496, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2010 of $4,465,875.[55]